Research & reports

Sarah Kumnig · WU Research · Austria (Vienna)

This paper analyzes the implications of neoliberal urban development for agricultural spaces and practices in Vienna, Austria, where agricultural areas face pressure from population growth and a construction boom. Using the Donaufeld district as a case study, the analysis reveals selective preservation and activation of specific urban agriculture types and the use of participatory politics in urban development projects. The study highlights the challenges faced by urban agriculture amidst competing interests in a rapidly developing city.

Sri Tuntung Pandangwati, Ole Fryd · · Australia (Melbourne)

A study in Maribyrnong, Australia, used secondary data and GIS to assess the potential of urban vacant land for vegetable production in three suburbs: Maribyrnong, Footscray, and Seddon. Maribyrnong and Footscray could meet annual local vegetable demand using less than half their vacant spaces. Seddon could potentially produce 93% of local demand by utilizing all existing vacant spaces.

NUR HUZEIMA MOHD HUSSAIN, HUGH BYRD · Jurnal Antarabangsa Alam dan Tamadun Melayu · Malaysia

This paper questions whether Malaysia is experiencing de-urbanization, or a return to a new form of rural life, following rapid urbanization and a shift from an agricultural to a manufacturing-dependent society. It notes that urban growth has increased demand for resources, while recent debates on oil depletion and economic decline have prompted discussions about urban and peri-urban food production. The study explores the emerging decentralization of cities and population in Malaysia.

Cécile Faliès · Problèmes d Amérique latine · Chile (Santiago)

This article provides an overview of agriculture around Santiago, Chile, based on fieldwork conducted since 2005. Despite the presence of agriculture linked to Santiago and Valparaiso, and the emergence of some forms like organic farming, it is difficult to classify this as urban agriculture due to the peripheral location and limited number of plots. The study indicates that urban agriculture, as commonly defined, has a limited presence in the Santiago metropolitan area.

Jennifer L. Barron · Local Environment · Global

This paper explored how neoliberal processes of privatization, state entrepreneurialism, and devolution intersect with community gardens. It argued that certain characteristics and orientations of gardens are more conducive to resisting neoliberalism. These include cultivating producer, citizen, and activist subjectivities, elevating the use value of shared lived space, advancing spatial justice through community access to non-privatized space, and promoting food justice through non-commodified means of obtaining food.

Luis Malagón González · · Global

This research aims to create a company by designing a prototype for sustainable urban agriculture, utilizing recycled and reused elements to facilitate human management and integration with the natural environment.

Emma Björkqvist · · Sweden

This study investigated the prevalence of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA, "andelsjordbruk" in Swedish) in Sweden and the motivations, drivers, and goals behind decisions to start them. Based on interviews with four CSA farmers in Sweden, it showed that they share several common motives, goals, and values in their respective operations. The study concluded that CSA appears to be part of a new social movement contributing to self-sufficiency and locally produced food.

Hana Cadzow, Tony Binns · Development in Practice · Sierra Leone

In Freetown, Sierra Leone, government and NGOs have encouraged urban farmers to form farming associations to receive advice and inputs. This study is based on field research that investigated the experiences of members in six different farming associations. It suggests that little information currently exists regarding the functioning of these associations or how their effectiveness might be improved.

· Apple Academic Press eBooks · Australia (Perth)

This study conducted a sustainable water management trial in Butler, Perth, Western Australia, for urban irrigation. The trial system incorporated features like untreated fit-for-purpose groundwater, drip irrigation, and soil enhancement, comparing outcomes against controlled areas. The study found that fit-for-purpose irrigation combined with water-sensitive land management could achieve significant water savings and irrigation efficiency for urban agriculture. While untreated groundwater quality can be an issue, the research indicated it can be managed with innovative irrigation techniques.

Csaba Bende, Gyula Nagy · Belvedere Meridionale · Hungary

This study investigated the organizational and operational schematics of two community gardens, Megálló and Makkosház, in Szeged, Hungary, comparing them to Western practices. Empirical data was collected through interviews with gardeners and coordinators in October 2014, and January and March 2015. Results indicated that Szeged's community gardens differ considerably from average American community gardens but share common features with European ones. Both gardens were found to be top-down directed and controlled, which contrasts with American and European practices.

Emma Stigson · · Sweden

A qualitative study investigating the development of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Sweden utilized literature reviews, interviews, participant observations, and digital media tracking. The findings indicate that CSA is relatively new in Sweden but is becoming more common, with the number of farms increasing over the past 3-4 years and now spread across the country. CSA contributes to ecological, economic, and social sustainable development in Swedish rural areas.

Gundula Proksch · · Global

This chapter discusses the potential of urban agriculture to mitigate water management challenges. While industrial agriculture consumes 70% of accessible water, cities struggle with water security and fail to utilize on-site sources like rainfall. Urban agriculture is presented as a solution to these water challenges by integrating water-efficient strategies with existing urban infrastructure, building systems, and management approaches.

Gundula Proksch · · Global

This chapter investigates factors for implementing sustainable, energy-efficient urban agricultural operations, focusing on the solar needs of plants, the extension of growing seasons indoors, and passive solar gains for buildings. It provides an overview of greenhouse typologies, cover materials, and lighting systems to optimize energy use and production. Additionally, it examines the potential for photosynthesis and the carbon cycle to utilize building exhaust systems for CO2-rich air and excess heat to support crop cultivation, exploring intersections among nutrient, water, and energy cycles through case studies.

Marie Wellner, Ludwig Theuvsen · · Global

This paper provides an overview of the current state of research on Alternative Food Networks (ALN) and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) through a literature analysis. It aims to clearly define the research area by differentiating individual ALNs and presents the core elements of the CSA concept in the context of regional marketing.

Gundula Proksch · · Global

This chapter investigates various approaches to community involvement in urban agriculture, demonstrating how communities and interest groups can be instrumental in creating and operating urban agricultural projects. Urban agriculture has the potential to reestablish lost connections between food production and consumption and restore social, economic, and cultural ties. Community-initiated urban agricultural programs are essential in reducing the divide between producers and consumers.

Maria Fernanda Pessoa, Paula Scotti‐Campos, Isabel P. Pais, Ana Feteiro, Daniela Sílvia de Oliveira Canuto, Manuela Simes, João Pelica, Inês Maria Mantinhas Pataco, Vânia Ribeiro, Fernando H. Reboredo, José C. Ramalho, Fernando C. Lidon · Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture · Portugal

The nutritional profile of "Tronchuda" or Portuguese cabbage produced in urban horticultures from 4 regions of mainland Portugal was studied, along with elemental soil analysis of each sampling site. This study revealed significant interactions between essential elements in soil and plant leaves, the edible part of the plant. In general, these leaves contained poor concentrations of Fe and Si, while Mn was absent, regardless of the sampling sites. Conversely, Ca levels were abundant, ranging between 3.3% and 3.9%. Soils from CAP showed a nutrient exhaustion of Fe, Mn, and Mo, although the highest protein and sucrose contents in the leaves were observed in plants growing in those soils. Protein, lipids, and carbohydrates concentrations differed according to sampling site, reflecting different production practices.

Chiara Casazza, Stefano Pianigiani · Civil Engineering and Urban Planning An International Journal (CiVEJ) · Global

Urban agriculture is a complex phenomenon that responds to the common need for sustainable cities in environmental, economic, social, and institutional terms. It encompasses various approaches and intervention typologies, from low-tech to high-tech solutions like community gardens and vertical farms. This field characterizes cities at different scales, including territory, town, neighborhood, building, and house, addressing diverse user exigencies and requirements.

C. Paizinho, M. de F. Ferreiro · Repositório do ISCTE-IUL · Portugal (Lisbon)

This study identified solidarity economy practices in three urban gardens in Lisbon, Portugal: Vale de Chelas, Alta de Lisboa, and Horta do Baldio. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, including surveys of 42 users and interviews with 3 stakeholders, 31 out of 35 evaluated practices were identified, with 7 being "very relevant" and 4 "relevant." Key practices included organic production, contributions to social cohesion and health, knowledge sharing, reciprocity, and democratic decision-making, while 20 practices were considered "less relevant."

Tom Beer, Brenda B. Lin, A.E.J. McGill · Water science and technology library · Global

This chapter considers the effects of climate change on food production, with particular reference to urban agriculture and its associated impacts on food security. The value of urban agriculture to the health and nutrition of developing and developed countries is described. The current status of related research by international agencies is outlined, and their omissions are highlighted. Proposals are made as to how these overlooked areas of research might be addressed.

Bettina König, Ranka Junge, András Bittsánszky, Morris Villarroel, Tamás Kőmíves · Ecocycles · Global

A literature review was conducted on the social, environmental, and economic impacts of aquaponics. The technology has potential applications in various settings, including commercial or community-based urban food production, industrial-scale production, small-scale farming, and educational systems. However, it is concluded that due to the complexity within markets, value chains, communities, infrastructure, and policy settings, further research and data acquisition are needed to fully assess all sustainability aspects.

J. Dominique Gumirakiza, Laura J. Hopper, Gumirakiza, J. Dominique, Hopper, Laura · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · Global

An exploratory study of existing literature on locally grown food systems identified common findings, recommendations, and proposed priorities, key variables, and relationships for future research. Findings indicate that local food marketing through farmers' markets and Community Supported Agriculture, along with the benefits of local food systems to local economies (an ongoing debate), heavily dominate the literature. Prior studies commonly reported enthusiasm for locally grown fresh produce but presented diverging results regarding significant consumer characteristics.

LE Wynne, Dana Cordell, Joanne Chong, Becky L. Jacobs · UTS ePRESS (University of Technology Sydney) · Australia (Sydney)

This report, using Sydney as a case study, examines land-use planning on the urban fringe for peri-urban food production. It finds that for many cities, including Sydney, a large proportion of peri-urban food production has already been lost due to conversion to residential and infrastructure uses. The report reviews various planning responses to address threats to peri-urban agriculture.

Matjaž Glavan, Majda Černič Istenič, Rozalija Cvejić, Marina Pintar · InTech eBooks · Slovenia (Ljubljana)

Two economic models of urban gardening, an avoided costs model (ACM) and a business model (BM), were compared among 127 urban gardeners in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Average ACM gardeners achieved savings of 3.38 EUR/m2 (approximately 462.7 EUR per average 136.69 m2 garden). Average BM gardeners sold approximately 107.0 kg of vegetables annually from 32.48 m2 of production area, generating a gross margin of approximately 135.17 EUR/year (4.29 EUR/m2). The study provides evidence that the ACM can be upgraded with the BM for additional income.

Rossella Franchino, Nicola Pisacane · Journal of Sustainable Architecture and Civil Engineering · Global

This study proposes urban farming as an effective tool for renewing urban open spaces, considering its environmental, economic, and social possibilities. Through a structured case study on the requalification of a degraded urban area in Southern Italy, a preparatory analysis of local resources was conducted using diachronic and synchronic comparative map studies. This analysis, alongside the study of urban farming models, enabled the development of the project idea.

Kévin Bernard, Aurélie Bonein, Douadia Bougherara · 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts · Global

This study investigated consumers' preferences for attributes of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) contracts, focusing on risk and fairness preferences. Two incentivized field experiments were combined with a stated choice survey, interviewing 162 CSA members face-to-face. Consumers were found to be averse to advantageous inequality (AI) towards CSA and non-CSA farmers, and to disadvantageous inequality (DI) towards non-CSA farmers, but also showed evidence of DI seeking towards CSA farmers. Consumers preferred longer contracts, driven by risk rather than fairness, and exhibited a dislike for losses and share price increases.